Ground Report

By Kashif Shahzad

CHITRAL. World Wide Fund for Nature Pakistan, Chitral organized a Quiz Competition on the theme “Climate change & Snow Leopard” in Booni Chitral. The competition seeks to educate children on Climate change & Snow leopard , thereby cultivating a more aware and environmentally responsible future generation to conserve nature.

The Event was attended by Mr. Habib ul Islam Range Office Wildlife Booni Range, Mr. Ajaz Ahmad Project Coordinator LEAD Pakistan, Mr. Naveed Ahmad Pakistan GLOF Project Mr. Niyaz Uddin Distract Livestock office Chitral, Students, teachers and officials from the wildlife range booni.   Mr. Shafiqullah Khan, Field Biologist, World Wide fund for nature-Pakistan Chitral shared the objective of the event and he said Snow leopards are facing a distinct threat from climate change; the snow leopard was placed on the endangered species list to protect its dwindling numbers and WWF-Pakistan is working for Conservation Snow Leopard, conservation through working with local community  and herders to help foster a better understanding of how to co-exist with these animals and minimize conflicts between them, he added. Later Mr. Khan given a details presentation on Biodiversity of Khyber Pukhtunkhaw with special focusing of Chitral in which the students asked many questions about biodiversity.

During the session an animated film on importance of snow leopard and its conservation issues developed by WWf-Pakistan was played for the students and at the end of the films questions were asked from the student based on the films and the winners were given prizes and appreciation certificates from WWF-P-Chitral. The winners were Mujeeb u Rahman, Ali Ahmad, Mr. Selman of Oxford School Booni, Maheen Murad, Shujat of Basma Ali Orien School of Learning, Booni and Fatima and Sajjad Ali Space era School Booni.  “I am really excited and happy on the progress our made. The quiz was really challenging and explored our knowledge on Snow Leopard,” said Basma Ali Orien School of learning booni.

Speaking on the Event, Range Officer Wildlife Booni – Habib ul Islam, said, “The quiz competition is best tool to promote awareness on conservation and will helping create future conservationists who will take the mission forward.

Commenting on the importance of such events Ajaz Ahmad, Project Coordinator Lead Pakistan’s Wildlife Conservation Project said, “The quiz aims to create a strong connect amongst students towards nature and wildlife. Such initiatives help student in understanding the fragility of our natural environment and the importance of its protection.”

On the concluding remarks the Field Biologist WWF-Pakistan Chitral, Mr. Shafiqullah Khan congratulated to the winners and thanks the schools managements, teachers, wildlife department chitral for their keen interest for the successful organizing the event. The event was attended by 60 students from various schools in Booni.